Dot Harding Notes, Jan, 2004

Beecher Mott was the first offspring born in Maine. He and his wife Clara had two children: Everett Beecher Mott, b. Sept 1, 1913 in New Haven, Conn. and Ruth Emily Mott, b. March 2, 1926 in Hamden, Conn.

Everett was married twice and had a son and daughter - Marilyn and David with his first wife Norma Holden. His second wife was a nurse who came from Douglaston, NB. Everett was a pharmacist. He, then his wife died in California.

Ruth married a minister, Merton David Brown. They were associated with ministries in University settings, frequented the desert and Ruth was one to always send a Christmas letter that recalled the year's events. (I always thought that was fun.) She and Merton brought up Everett's two children and adopted a son "Rusty", b May 24, 1957. They would open their home to exchange students and adopted another son "Joey" before Merton's death. Ruth and Joey flew to Maine about 6 yrs ago. There has barely been any communication with Ruth for abt a year now. She had terrible arthritis. She and Joey (with a turtle of some sort) were living in Oklahoma nearer Merton's family.

I am not aware of any grandchildren. I do know Everett's daughter "renamed" herself and was living in Greenwich Village.

I don't recall meeting Everett, but I found Ruth to be very friendly (probably the role of a minister's wife). Of course, her mother was extremely nice too. A visit from them when they lived in Connecticut was always a bit exciting. Relatives from Millinocket, Old Town and Canada would come to my grandmother's. The house would be full. (Sometimes it was for a celebration, sometimes for a funeral) I would sit and entertain myself (I was suppose to be seen and not heard) by picking out who were Motts and who were not (spouses, friends, etc). The Mott men were bald and the family has a big bags under their eyes.... except for Burns' son Robert.

I got pretty good at it. That's difficult for a 7 or 9 yr old - then to keep all the names matched with the right uncle - Beecher, Burns, Milford, Gene... Their wives always had a distinctive look, or voice that made them much easier to keep identified.

Burial - California;

The beginning listing of the grandchildren of Ed and Ruth Foster Mott - limited and incomplete in some instances as not everyone responded to earlier queries for Family Group Sheets.

The major source for names and DOBs is the Emerson Birthday Book that belonged to Ruth Foster Mott and the Longfellow Birthday Book that belonged to her youngest daughter Effie Mott Potter (my grandmother). To a certain extent, as Effie was born in 1901 and some of these entries began before 1901, I suspect that the older ones were probably copied from Ruth's BB. The newer ones, because Ruth had had a stroke before her death in 1943 leaving her blind and at least partially dependent on others, may have been added (in Ruth's book) by others (Lue Mott Shedd?). Effie may have added later entries in her book independently. But, all known grandchildren, a few unknown names which I suspect were grandchildren that were stillborn or died shortly after birth, and a couple great grandchildren are accounted for within these two sources - their names and DOBs.

1) Children of Sophia Mott and Andrew "Dan" Speedy: Jessie M. Speedy b.July 01, 1893 Margaret Speedy b. February 10, 1898 Stella May Speedy b .April 19, 1900 George Albert Speedy b. February 16, 1903 Elizabeth M. Speedy b. March 04, 1906 Roy Speedy b. September 01, 1914 Ruth Speedy b. September 01, 1914 Frances Priscilla Speedy b.November 18, 1919

(In Ruth's Emerson Birthday Book a Charles Edward Speedy is listed on July 02 page, no date. Another Charles Edward Speedy entry appears on November 2 with 1896 given. In Harvey, New Brunswick at Manners-Sutton Cemetery with Sophia and Dan there is a stone for a Charles Edward Speedy indicating that he died in 1906. I suspect this is one, maybe a two children, belonging to the couple. One would fall between Jessie and Margaret's DOBs. My mother was only aware that Aunt Sophie had 6 daughters, one being a twin to Roy who died in 1914. Born in 1930, my mother obviously was a younger grandchild. She would be the first to admit she doesn't know all, but recalls hearing the names. The youngest daughter Frances had the distinction of being the first house on the left when one entered the Canadian MacAdam from Vanceboro, Maine. She died two or three years ago. I recall that she and Ruth would visit my grandmother in the 1950's. I would hear them laughing long after I had been sent to bed. Frances always was a happy, positive person who continued visiting her Libby cousins - Hilda Washburn and Lottie Sweet - to months before her death.)

Off the top of my head, I know this family group (clan) would visit their Libby cousins on Frost Street, also known locally as "The Flat Iron" due to its lay out in reference to the town of Lincoln. The Libby homestead sits on a manmade pond, Stump Pond. There is a dam below the cow pastures where I'm sure kids would venture off - particularly the Libbys. One of the Libbys (I'd have to look up exactly which one it was) shared that on one visit, the kids went to the dam with Elizabeth who was in her teens and was dolled up in a light blue dress. The kids encouraged her out onto the dam boards for a walk. She lost her balance and slipped, physically unhurt, down over the sluice boards. The kids retrieved her - mud and all.

My grandfather Arthur Potter, who would have been Sophie's brother-in-law, was a mail clerk and end up in Vanceboro atthe end of the line, in what they called a "dead head" - no work assignment to return home. He would cross the border into MacAdam and Harvey and spend the night. He would either "dead head" home on the next available train, or my mother and grandmother would drive over the next day and retrieve him. Consequently, his assurance that they always opened the door to him and were a lot of fun was authentic.

Jessie m Francis (Frank) Knowlton and had at least two children - George and Frances Margaret m Clifford Anderson. I have a listing for three children - Ralph, Keith Roy and Archie. Stella m William McIntyre. I have a listing for three children - William, Everett and Gladys Elizabeth m a Pierce. I have no children listed, although I am sure they exist(ed) Ruth m a MacDonald. I have Barbara Jean and Angus listed. Frances m William Lewis Carvell. (She did respond with an extensive listing of her grandchildren and some ggc on Family Group pages) Their children: Roy William, Arlene Elizabeth, Carol Ann, Irma Mae and Gary Alvin.

At the time of her death in 1949, Sophia claimed 19 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. They obviously are not all listed here. Although the offspring have "flown the coop", from the area, many traces - particularly in the summer on local lakes - can be found. Frances reflects my understanding that the family was close and remained important to one another throughout the years. On my long list of to do things, these descendants warrrant further investigation as they are several generations grown.

That's the first child Sophia's family. The only one who remained in Canada.

Burial - Manners-Sutton Cemetry;

Milford and Agnes (Butler) Mott's household nearly always had children. Agnes never had children of her own that I am aware of -

Milford was carefree, happy, sly and cunning, a tease. Again, when his name is mentioned and the person knew him, a big smile follows as the thought of him comes to their mind. Frequently I think they are selective about the tales they tell about him.

The three children I have listed are:

John Milford Mott born September 27, 1907 Ressa and Tressa (twins) born April 20, 1914

John was Milford's son. Presently, I am not sharing the rumors regarding his mother's identity as they may be rumors, not fact. John married Gladys ??? who later married a Ewing and that couple ran a local, familiar Ewing's Market - known to open nearly every day of the year long before LL Bean boasted the same. Interestingly, she lived out her life in a home that sits in the middle, two houses from Milford's and three houses from Milford's parents' home. Their daughter Hope married Clovie St. Thomas and had two sons (surprisingly I don't have their names listed.) Hope has died within the last 5 yrs. John went to Milo, Maine and remarried, or vice versa - remarried and went to Milo - where he was a jeweler. (again, more research needed)

Twins Ressa and Tressa were biological daughters of Milford's cousin Amber Foster McAlpine, a daughter to Ruth Foster Mott's brother Charles Foster and his wife Ida Smith. Amber died in 1918, leaving 5 girls and a boy. The twins would have been 4 yrs old at the time. The children were seperated and brought up by different people - the twins by Milford and Agnes. Ressa's obituary said that they were adopted by Milford when they were 16, but family photos include McAlpines much, much earlier than that.

Tressa died in 1998, Ressa died in 2002. There are multiple marriages and a few offspring who don't respond to queries.

Their youngest sister Velma and her husband Roger Allen are living at the local NH. Velma has severe Alzheimers and Roger's health and memory have also failed. A historical buff, he openly would talk about the McAlpine family and their upbringing.

The twins were always considered part of the family. In any photo I have seen of them, they were dressed up fancy with bows in their hair. Their father stayed in the area and had potential contact with them. (He may have kept his son with him - but, not the girls.) His obituary is open about his children - and list his daughters as Motts, not by their biological name of McAlpine.

There was also a "Rip" Savage who was raised in part by them. One of Agnes' sisters married a Savage so he might have been Agnes' nephew. Interestingly, one of Agnes' sisters married a Millett (and in some long, contorted system beyond me this morning, she is in a 5 generation picture than ties into the Whalens, that go back to Sturgeon family which Milford's brother Gene and sister Floss married into.... ain't small towns grand?)

Ken Scott lived there as a teenager. A Ken Scott was married briefly to one of the twins and they had a son Ken that still lives in town, but is not responsive to queries.

One of Milford's brother Carl's boys (I think Jerome) lived with them at one time too.

I know Agnes' father was a Penobscot Indian and the first dead person I had ever seen. Aunt Lue would walk me from my grandmother's home and visit them when "Gramp Butler", as he was known to the town, lived with them. He had pure white hair. Again, somewhere among my boxes is a huge article printed in the local papers on his 90+ birthday. I know he had just independently paddled across Mattanawcook Lake which is in Lincoln's downtown when the article was printed... and I believe he had his first airplane ride too. (Obviously, this job goes on and on and on and on...)

Dot Harding notes, Jan 2004

Walter and Josephine (White) Mott raised two daughters - Margaret Kathryn Mott, b. October 17, 1911 and Elizabeth M. Mott, b. November 11, 1913

Margaret married Earle Dykeman Taylor and still lives in Millinocket. She openly bragged about her grandchildren when I visited her once. I recall that there was a duplication of names when the second girl joined the family so I think Elizabeth is Elizabeth Margaret. Another necessary deciphering before long: I believe the two were relatives to the couple and "adopted".

I believe the couple were drawn to the mill. The town is relatively new, was settled in the early 1900s. Do not quote this as I confuse Walter and Hazen at times. They both died unexpectedly - one from a horsekick, the other from pneumonia (he jumped into the cold lake after a hot day's work). More unfinished business for me to delve into.

Burial - Lincoln, ME;

Known as Joe

Known as Fanny

Burial - Danforth, ME;

Known as Mickey

Burial - 04 SEP 2005; Forest City, NB;

Burial - 07 OCT 1995; Chateauquay Catholic cemetery, Que;

Known as Jim

Burial - 02 APR 1975;

Burial - Fosterville, N.B. (Lower Cemetery);

03/20/2003 Daily Gleaner

Graydon Eugene Nevers of Hartland passed away on Wednesday, March 19, 2003 at the Carleton Memorial Hospital in Woodstock. He was 73. He was predeceased by his wife Ella (Lewis) in 1989. He is survived by his children Emily (Thomas) Williamson of Hartland, NB, Glenn (Dawn) Nevers of Hartland, NB, Malcolm Nevers of Dartmouth, NS, Pamela (Barry) Gilbert of Zealand, NB, eight grandchildren Thomas, Timothy, Elizabeth and Sarah Williamson, Meghan, Jessica and William Nevers, Lilly Gilbert, sister, Marion McBride of Fredericton, brother, Robert (Marguita) Nevers of Lakeland, Florida, nieces and nephews. Resting at the Britton Funeral Home, High Street, Hartland with visiting hours on Friday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday from the Hartland Baptist Church. Interment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Hartland. Donations can be made to the Gideon Bibles or the Alzheimer's Society.

Burial - Kirkland, N.B;